Unless you have had a new boiler installed recently (or at all), there is a high chance that you simply don’t know what type of boiler you actually have in your home.

After all, a boiler is supposed to operate as quietly as possible, in a cupboard.  Out of sight – out of mind as it were. If you have never had to replace the boiler then you may not be familiar with the different types available.

So what type of boiler do you have?

There are three ‘popular’ types of boiler brand in Scotland.

• Combi Boilers
• Regular Boilers
• System Boilers

These types of boiler refer to the machine itself and not the fuel it uses because they all run on gas – hence why we all pay a gas bill for our boilers. If you don’t have a gas boiler then you will be using LPG or oil.  This will be reflected in your monthly energy bills.

So how can I tell which is which?

The easiest way to tell which is which is by looking at the components of the boiler.  Does it have a hot water cylinder?  Is there a cold water storage tank (in the loft)?

If there is no hot water cylinder in your airing cupboard then you have a combi boiler.  Combi boilers don’t have a hot water cylinder, a cold water storage tank or an external pump.  The only one of the three that does is a regular boiler. A System boiler has a hot water cylinder but doesn’t have a cold water storage tank or an external pump.

Combi Boilers

If you can’t check any of the above then another way to look is if there are 5 copper pipes coming out of the boiler.  If the answer is yes then you will have a combi boiler.  You don;t need a cold water storage tank because the cold water is provided by the mains supply and you don’t need a hot water cylinder because the combi boiler produces the hot water on demand.  They are easy to install, reliable and more economical than older types of boiler which is why they are now the most popular type of boiler installed in Scotland.

Regular Boilers

Regular boilers are easy to spot as they have two pipes coming out of the top of the boiler and one coming out of the bottom. They are fairly big but that size allows them to supply hot water across multiple bathrooms in a home and are a real world option for larger homes that require more than just one combi boiler (though we have previously fitted two combi boilers to one larger property).

System Boilers

If there are three pipes coming out of your boiler (together) then you most likely have a system boiler.  With these types of boiler, you don’t get instant hot water like you do in a combi boiler but instead have a large hot water cylinder (commonly found in the airing cupboard) and which can supply multiple showers in a larger home at the same time.

Still not sure?

If you are still not sure as to what type of boiler you have, the best option is to give us a call.

We are a local heating contractor and are fully Gas Safe registered and a Baxi Approved Boiler Installer.  We pride ourselves on following these four simple rules.

• We turn up on time.
• We treat our customers the way they should be treated.
• We give quality, honest advise.
• We get the job done!

That is the core of who we are and what we do. And we are always happy to help.

If you are looking for a qualified heating engineer to install a new boiler, fix a broken one or carry out a service on an existing one then get in touch.  You can text or call directly on 07746 942 768.

You will always find a friendly voice on the other end of the phone and we are happy to talk about everything from what brand of boiler is best to how much a new boiler install will cost. And of course, to help you figure out what type of boiler you actually have.